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NBA Power Rankings: Spurs begin the season as No. 1 team, Knicks lead a reloaded East

The San Antonio Spurs have kicked off the new NBA season as the top-ranked team in the league, building on their dominant playoff run that included a thrilling Game 7 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference finals. Despite the Spurs’ series win, the Thunder remained competitive throughout, suggesting a closely matched Western Conference.

However, San Antonio’s roster depth and development—particularly from rookies Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper—give them a clear edge moving forward. The Spurs’ ability to hold a lead for over 72% of the minutes in the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks last year, when simply reaching the playoffs was a stretch, now positions them as title contenders with a stronger core.

Meanwhile, the Knicks enter the season as the East’s most formidable team, though their regular-season struggles may persist in a stacked conference. With key players like Kevin Durant under contract pressures, their path to repeating as champions will require near-flawless execution in a league that has defied repeat success since the 2018 Warriors.

The Thunder, meanwhile, face questions about their depth after losing Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Lu Dort, but Cason Wallace’s emergence and Chet Holmgren’s continued growth could offset those losses. Holmgren’s rim protection remains a defining factor, and if he closes the gap with Wembanyama in a potential rematch, Oklahoma City could reclaim its place as the West’s best team.

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